Filming Our End of Life Care Training: A Day of Learning, Connection & Heart

Last week, something truly special happened. We gathered in a quiet space at WeWork to film our End of Life Care training video for care workers – a project born out of deep listening and care for the care workers we support every day.

Through our work at Tresacare, we’ve heard again and again how difficult it is to face death for the first time – especially without the training or emotional support to process it. Many domiciliary care workers provide end of life care alone, in the community, with little preparation for the grief and bereavement that often follows.

So we set out to change that.

In partnership with St Mary’s University Twickenham and The Art of Living & Dying Well, we’re creating a free, accessible training video that brings expert knowledge and real care worker experiences together. Our hope is that this resource becomes a companion to anyone – whether a care worker, family member, or friend—who is supporting someone at the end of their life.

The day of filming was powerful, moving, and surprisingly fun!

We had the brilliant Professor Julia Verne (Consultant in Public Health and a national expert in palliative and end of life care) join us as our lead trainer. She was simply phenomenal. What was meant to be eight hours of filming, she delivered in just two and a half – with no script, no second takes. Her words were clear, warm, and deeply human. We were all blown away.

Behind the lens was the talented Alvaro Garcia, our videographer, who captured every moment with care and sensitivity. We’re also so grateful to Maggie Doherty, Director of The Art of Living & Dying Well, whose connections and quiet leadership made this all possible, and to Ale from our team, who supported every step of the way.

And then – our care workers: Bolanle, Motunrayo, and Funke. These women showed incredible strength and vulnerability, sharing their real stories of loss, love, and care. They spoke from the heart about what it’s like to walk alongside someone in their final days, and the emotional toll that can take. Their honesty was a gift, and we are so proud to be able to share their voices.

After listening to her story, I felt moved to write a LinkedIn post in support of Motunrayo, one of the care workers featured in the video. The post quickly went viral – a wave of compassion, encouragement, and offers of support poured in from across the country. In a time when international care workers are being displaced and undervalued in the UK, it was deeply moving to witness such solidarity and humanity. It reminded us all that storytelling matters. That visibility matters. That care workers matter.

We had McDonald's for lunch, laughed between takes, and left the day feeling deeply connected to one another and the mission we share.

This video is for every care worker who’s ever sat by a bedside feeling unsure or alone. It’s for every person who's ever wondered how to talk about death, how to comfort someone grieving, or how to care with confidence and compassion at the end of life.

We can’t wait to release this free training video to the public. Let it be a resource, a guide, and a gentle hand for those doing the quiet, essential work of care.

Stay tuned!